Kenneth "Kenny" M. Banks

Kenneth M. (Kenny) Banks passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, June 2, 2023, at HopeWest Hospice Care Center after suffering a subdural hematoma and stroke. He was 78.

Kenny was born to David A. Banks and Marjorie M. Dilley on September 30, 1944 in Glendale, California. He was a lifelong resident of Grand Junction with the exception of the first year of his life in California.

He attended Clifton and Fruitvale Elementary Schools and Clifton Junior High School. Ken was a 1963 graduate of Central High School and for two years, he attended Mesa College (now Colorado Mesa University). He served in the Colorado National Guard from May 1965 until his discharge in May of 1971. Kenny met and began dating Neva Nelson in 1965, and the couple married on August 26, 1966. They continued to make their home in Grand Junction.

Kenny was employed at City Market at 4th and Grand Avenue for 10 years after which he was the Distribution Manager for Keebler Company for 18 years. When Keebler closed their Grand Junction distribution facility in 1990, he chose to leave the Company rather than transfer to a different state, since both his mother and mother-in-law were widowed and needed assistance. He worked as a vendor for both Pepperidge Farm and Mission Foods until his retirement in the early 2000’s.

Kenny’s hobby was collecting music from the 50’s and 60’s and he had an extensive library of over 3,000 songs including music from the Big Band Era, Christmas, Gospel Music, and particularly Gospel Quartets.

Kenny and his wife were deeply involved in the music ministry at First Assembly of God Church (now Victory Life Church) for many years. He enjoyed singing tenor in the choir, trios, duets with Neva, and his favorite group, the men’s quartet, spending countless hours learning new songs, practicing, and laughing with his good friends.

Ken was preceded in death by his younger sister, Patricia (Pat) Catullo, in July 2022, and his older sister, Barbara Burgess Gibbons, in October 2022; all three passed in less than a year. He is survived by his wife, Neva; his son, Brent, and daughter-in-law, Candy; his daughter, Camille; and his granddaughter, Kayla McCracken.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 10:00-11:00 a.m., at Victory Life Church, with a funeral service starting at 11 a.m. Committal will take place following the funeral at Grand Junction Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kenny’s name to Mercy Ships at www.mercyships.org, or Convoy of Hope at www.convoyofhope.org.

Kenny “never met a stranger”, and he will be greatly missed by his family and a multitude of friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinMortuary.com for the Banks family.